Mechanical sound attachment for toy locomotives



Dec. 26, 1933. H. R. HOWSER, JR 1,941,307

MECHANICAL SOUND ATTAGHMENT FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVES Filed June 28, 1933 I Patented Dec. 2 6, 1933 PATENT OFFICE Harry R. Howser, Jr., Washington, D. C. I' Application June 28, 1933. Serial No. 678,074

12 Claims. I

This invention relates to sounding wheel toys, particularly to toy steam type locomotives.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a toy locomotive of the steam boiler type I having means for simulating the sound of exhaust steam, I

I Another object of the invention'is to provide a toy steamboilertype locomotive with a mechanical means to simulate the sound of exhaust steam by agitating confined hard substances upon movement ofthe locomotive. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide ashaker type sound producer attachment I for toy steam boiler type locomotives that 'is intermittently operated to always produce a uniform non-harmonic noise simulating the sound of exhaust steam, but the ratio of operation is varied in timed relation to the speed of the locomotive. I I

Afurther object is to provide a sound producer attachment of this character that'is purely mechanical in operation and may beused on electrical or spring motor driven toys, or the trundl or hand propelled type. I

Other objectswill, from the description, beapparent to those skilled in the art. The present disclosure constitutes an exposition of an embodiment of the invention, and illustrates the best means I havethus far devised forreducing the invention to practice. It is to be understood that the structural details shown and described shall not constitute limitations inconsistent with the scope of the invention as claimed.

1 In the drawing:

Figure l is aside eelvation of a toy steam type locomotive partly cut away, with the sound producer shown in section and the operating means in elevation.

' Figure 2 is'a section on the line'2-'2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the motor' and drive of a toy steam type locomotive'showing a modified form of -ioperating mechanism for the sound producer.

The invention generally comprises a purely mechanical means for intermittently operating a sound producer attachment applied to a steam boiler type toy locomotive to always produce a uniform non-harmonic noise that simulates the sound of theexhaust of steam. This simulated exhaust, chug, or'puiT sound has no appreciable lag and is substantially the same at low starting speeds as it is at high speeds. Additional means controlled by movement of the locomotive actuate the sound producer operating means so that the ratio of sound or chugs may be in timed relation to the speed of the locomotive.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1. the numeral 1 indicates the usual metal body of a toy steam type locomotive having the simulated exterior parts including-a boiler front 2, and a rear cab extension 3. The usual imitation steam chest 4 has driving connections with wheels 5 mounted on axles 6. Two sets of these wheels are shown mounted on a track 7, upon whichthe toy travels.

As the form shown is of the electrically driven type, a motor housing of the, conventional form is shown at 8. The axles 6 extend through this I housing and the wheels are driven in theusual manner.

The sound producer that simulates the sound of exhaust steam when in operation is indicated generally at 9. This sound producer comprises a closed resonance chamber 10, having a seriesof 7 openings 11, in the side wall thereof. Preferably theresonance'chamber is formed of sheet metal and in two parts. The openings may be of any number or size within limits and are not necessarily located in the side wall of the reson-. ance chamber. Within the resonance chamber is positioned a plurality of sound producing elements.v I These sound producing elements are indicated at 12, and in the form shown are free spheres or balls of metal. However, they may be of any desired shape, size; form, or material provided it is hardened, and the number may be varied up to the point the free movement thereof in the resonance chamber is not retarded. In the form shown the resonance chamber is mounted on a fiat spring strip 13, and secured intermediate the ends thereof by arivet 14. The spring 13 has one end, in the showing its rear end, secured to a saddle bracket 15, suitably mounted on one wall 16 of the motor frame 8. As the spring is subjected to rapid movement thefr'ee end 17 thereof is limited by a check compising an upright-18 secured to a wall of the motorframe and extending adjacent one side of the spring strip 13. I This upright carries a pair 100 of lateral studs 19 and20 disposed a suflicient distance above and below the end 17 to limit the extent of movement'of the same. This check is disposed a short distance to the rear of the extremity of the end 17. I

'In the embodiment disclosed the operating means for the sound producer actuator is driven through movement of a wheel of the locomotive, and comprises a cam 21 secured by a set screw 22 teen axle 6 of the locomotive. A straddle yoke 23 is positioned over the cam, and pivoted at 24 to the wall of the motor housing 8. The upper end of the yoke carries a laterally extending pin 25.

The direct actuating means for the sound producer unit comprises a bell crank lever 26, which is pivotally mounted at 27, above the motor housing 8, in a pair of opposed uprights 28 and 29 secured to opposite sides of said housing. A long arm 30 of' the bell crank lever is slotted at 31, and receives therein the yoke pin 25. A short arm of said lever 32 in normal position overlaps the extremity of'the spring 13.

In operation, movement of the wheel 5 and axle 6 will move the cam 21 fixed to the axle. This will rock the yoke 23 back and forth, and through connection of the same with the bell crank lever 26, a rocking movement will be imparted to said lever. The short arm 32 of the bell crank lever that normally slightly overlaps the extremity of the end 17 of the spring strip 13 will alternately engage above and below the same to move the spring up and down and shake or reciprocate the sound producer unit carried thereby. Undue movement of the spring is prevented by the studs 19 and 20. The short arm 32 merely intermittently engages the spring for movement in one direction, the spring action returning it to normal position before re-engagement.

Means areprovided for rendering the sound producer attachment inoperative by providing a sliding rod 39 mounted on the motor frame and having a handle end 40 projecting into the cab 3. The front end of the rod is pivotally connected to a rotatable cam 41 disposed beneath the spring strip 13. V

In normal position the cam 41 does not interifere with movement of the spring 13. Upon movement of the cam by actuation of the sliding rod 39, the spring is moved to and held in elevated position, so the short arm 32 will be outof engagement with the same. Consequently no motion is transmitted to the sound producer attachment during operation of the locomotive.

In Figure i I have shown a mod fied form of the invention which comprises a motor 33, of the conventional type used to operate toy electric locomotive. A housing 8 is provided in which are mounted axles 6' carrying wheels 5'. Gears 34 and 35 drive an axle. A spur gear 36 engages gear 35, and is driven thereby. Mounted on the spur gear 36 is a double tappet 37. a

The sound producer unit 9 is secured at 14' to a spring strip 13 mounted on a saddle bracket 15' on the housing frame. The free end of the spring strip is bent downwardly and then laterally as at 38, so that its extremity is disposed in the path of movement of the double tappet 37.

In operation movement of the spur gear 36 and double tappet 3'7 in either direction will move the spring strip 13 and transmit a shaking or reciprocating movement to the sound producingunit. This will simulate the sound of steam in the manner hereinbeiore described.

The structure shown embodies a novel form of sound producer applied to a toy steam type locomotive that is durable, economical, and realistically reproduces the sound of exhaust steam without mechanical defects. The unit is bodily movable and is not continuously connected with the operating means. This permits the intermittent actuation of the unit and produces the sharp, distinct, and always uniform chug sound simulating exhaust steam irrespective of the speed of the locomotive. It is always uniform because the spring mounting for the sound unit returns the same to normal position after contact and before the next contact. No matter how slow or fast the bell crank lever 26, or double tappet 37, is moved, the spring snap action returns the unit to a normal position so the reciprocation is not varied. Of course, the speed of the locomotive determines the time interval of the sound or chug, but the sound itself is uniform.

The size of the metallic resonance chamber and the quantity of the metallic balls or similar sound producing elements may be varied to increase or diminish the sound as desired. The intermittent shaking or reciprocation of the sound producing unit can be produced by any means intermittently engaging the same, desirably by the illustrated forms which embody a purely mechanical actuation. Operation of the sound producing attachment is then not dependent upon the source of power that drives the toy and it may be applied to either electrical, mechanical, or hand propelled toy locomotives, and is operable upon movement in either direction.

I claim:

1. The combination with a toy steam type 1000- motive, of a shaker type sound producing means, and means for intermittently actuating said sound producer upon movement of the locomotive to simulate the intermittent sound of exhaust of steam from the cylinders of a locomotive.

2. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a shaker type sound producer, means to intermittently actuate the sound producer to always produce a uniform nonharmonic sound simulating exhaust steam, and means to actuate said last mentioned means in timed relation to the speed of the locomotive.

3. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a snap action shaker type sound producer to simulate the sound of exhaust steam, and mechanical means to intermittently. actuate the sound producer upon movement of the locomotive.

4. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a spring mounted shaker'type sound producer'to simulate the sound of exhaust steam, and means for moving said sound producer against the spring by intermittent engagement upon movement of the locomotive.

5. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a shaker type sound producing means simulating exhaust of steam, means for moving said sound prducer in one direction by intermittent engagement by a movingpart of the loco-' motive, and means to return the sound producing means to normal position after said engagement.

6. In a toy locomotive, a mechanical means for simulating the sound of exhaust steam by intermittently actuating a shaker type sound producer including a closed metallic resonance chamber containing a plurality of loose sound producing elements of hard material.

'7. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a shaker type sound producing means simulating exhaust of steam, mechanical'means for intermittently operating the same, and means for operating said mechanical operating means in timed relation to the speed of the locomotive.

8. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a shaker type sounding means for simulating the exhaust of steam, mechanical means for motive, of a unitary bodily movable shaker type sound producing attachment, a spring arm upon which said attachment is mounted, and means controlled by an element of the locomotive to actuate said arm upon movement of the locomotive.

10. The combination with a toy steam type 1000- motive, of a unitary bodily movable sound producing attachment, a resiliently mounted arm upon which attachment is mounted, and mechanical means actuated upon movement of the locomotive to impart an intermittent reciprocating motion to said arm to shake the sound producer.

11. The combination with a toy steam type locomotive, of a unitary bodily movable sound proresonance chamber, a plurality of loose sound pro-,

ducing elements of hard material therein, and

means to intermittently move and release said chamber to impart a shaking movement thereto.

HARRY R. HOWSER, JR. 

